ˈsnake oil noun [uncountable] especially American English informal

1. something that is claimed to be a solution to a problem, but is not effective

2. snake oil salesman/peddler someone who deceives people by persuading them to accept false information, solutions that are not effective etc

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

snake oil
[American, informal]
advice or solutions to problems which are of no use.
In my opinion, government measures for balancing the budget are just so much snake oil.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲